wfn.org | Field test underway for new LCMS hymnal

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod
Board for Communication Services

LCMSNews -- No. 18
March 26, 2002

Field test underway
for new LCMS hymnal

Earlier this month, the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod's Commission on 
Worship mailed a packet to all LCMS congregations to begin field testing 
for the church body's new hymnal.

The mailing included a 108-page booklet and two CDs with material proposed 
for the hymnal, which is planned for publication in 2006. The booklet also 
has suggestions for using the field-test material and introducing the new 
hymnal.

Congregations have until June 1 to return a questionnaire about the items 
in the field-test mailing.

Dr. Paul Grime, executive director of the commission, said that the mailing 
was organized according to the five committees working on the hymnal.

Among the items included in the packet are:
* a new revision of the "Page 15" service from "The Lutheran Hymnal;"
* one CD with three new musical settings of the communion liturgy, and the 
other one with electronic files of various materials;
* a list of 470 hymns from existing Synod hymnals and supplements that 
Grime said "is not final, but ... hymns that are likely to be among those 
in the new hymnal;"
* hymn revisions and requests for hymn harmonizations to be submitted;
* calendars of commemorations;
* a comparative study of Bible translations;
* items for the "Agenda," including rites for individual confession and 
absolution, weddings, funerals and ordinations; and
* a summary of work on the hymnal's design and layout,

The second packet of field-test material for the hymnal is planned for 2003.

In 1998, the Synod convention encouraged the Commission on Worship to start 
work on the new hymnal. The 2001 convention approved the field testing, and 
the 2004 convention is expected to consider final approval for the hymnal.

"The field-test materials show that much work has already been done," Grime 
said. "We remain on target for publication in 2006."

The Commission on Worship will have an insert in the printed version of the 
April "Reporter" with details about this year's field-test mailing.

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